Gisèle Pelicot, a survivor of sexual assault, has reported feeling “overwhelmed” and “very honoured” upon receiving a personal letter of support directly from Queen Camilla.
In her correspondence, the Queen acknowledged Ms. Pelicot’s “courage” and “grace,” writing, “I very much wanted to write to express my heartfelt admiration for the courage, grace and dignity with which you have faced the horrific crimes committed against you.”
Ms. Pelicot endured systematic abuse over nearly a decade. Her then-husband repeatedly drugged and raped her. He also facilitated other men, whom he met online, to assault her.
Queen Camilla conveyed to Ms. Pelicot that she had “inspired women across the globe.” The letter further stated that Ms. Pelicot had “created a powerful legacy that will change the narrative around shame, forever.”
Gisèle Pelicot chose to relinquish her right to anonymity during the 2024 trial. This decision was a deliberate act aimed at shifting the burden of shame from the victim to the perpetrator, a concept she framed as making “the shame swap sides.”
Her stance transformed her into a global advocate for strength and feminism. Throughout the 15-week trial held in Avignon, supporters gathered daily outside the courthouse. They displayed signs expressing gratitude to Ms. Pelicot for her bravery and voiced calls for justice.
“It was an honour for me to receive this letter; I wasn’t expecting it at all,” Ms. Pelicot, aged 73, shared with Victoria Derbyshire in an interview for BBC Newsnight. She added, “I was overwhelmed that the Queen could send me this letter.”
Queen Camilla has a long-standing commitment to campaigning against domestic and sexual violence. For years, she has collaborated with organizations dedicated to supporting survivors.
“Thank you for all that you have done,” the Queen wrote to Ms. Pelicot. The letter concluded with, “You are very much in my thoughts and prayers, and I hope that you will now be able to rest and recover from this devastating ordeal.”
This marks the first public disclosure of the letter’s contents. With the permission of both the Queen and Ms. Pelicot, its details were shared with the BBC. This occurred during Ms. Pelicot’s interview with Newsnight, in anticipation of her memoir, titled “A Hymn To Life,” being released.
Ms. Pelicot expressed her surprise and stated, “I felt very honoured” upon receiving the note. She elaborated, “because although my words touched the whole world, I wasn’t expecting a letter from the Court of England.”
“I felt moved and very honoured that she had become aware of what had happened to me. I am grateful to her,” she concluded.